Fabric binding attachment for a sewing machine



F. P. GRECO Oct. 27, 1964 FABRIC BINDING ATTACHMENT FOR A SEWING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct.27, 1964 F. P. GRECO 3,154,034

FABRIC BINDING ATTACHMENT FOR A SEWING MACHINE Filed June 50, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E o I 54- a I 56 FIG. 8

IN V EN TOR. 7- PAN K GEE'C 0 BY imam M ATTORNEY F. P. GRECO Oct. 27, 1964 FABRIC BINDING ATTACHMENT FOR A SEWING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 30, 1961 FIG. IO

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FABRIC BINDING ATTACHMENT FOR A SEWING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. FPflWK 6/2560 QL/M 5,

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,154,034 FABRIC BINDING ATTAtIfHl/IENT FOR A SEWING MACHHNE Frank Paul Green, Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Singer Company of Canada Ltd, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a corporation of Quebec Filed June 30, 1961, Ser. No. 121,030 Claims. (Cl. 112-176) This invention relates to a fabric binding attachment for a sewing machine which is particularly applicable to the binding of carpets and rugs and is most effective when employed in connection with a blindstitch sewing machine.

Many carpet and rug installations require that the edge portions of the fabric be protected from unraveling and this is done by conventional binding of the edges. Binding has heretofore been accomplished by causing a binding material to overlie the edge portion of the fabric and securing the binding material to the fabric. Unfortunately, with the high cost of labor presently in effect, conventional hand methods of securing the tape to the fabric have become prohibitive in cost. Conventional machine methods of binding, on the other hand, generally permit the stitch to show, thus being unsatisfactory for high-priced installations.

The instant invention avoids the drawbacks referred to above and permits the installation of a binding material about a fabric, such as a rug or a carpet, effectively, inexpensively and quickly.

In the preferred modification of this invention, the binding material support means and the fabric support means are engageable with the presser foot of the sewing machine and are selectively disengageable therefrom. Binding material folding means are alternatively engageable with the sewing machine when the binding material support means and fabric support means are disengaged therefrom. Secondary support means may also be secured to the presser foot of the sewing machine at this time.

The invention will be further described by reference to the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this specification.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sewing machine bearing the fabric binding attachment of this invention thereupon and showing the binding material support means and fabric support means engaged with the presser foot of the sewing machine. The binding material folding means are not shown in this figure.

FIG. 2 is a detail view of the presser foot of the sewing machine shown in FIG. 1 with the binding material support means and fabric support means engaged therewith.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the structure shown in PEG. 2 with the presser foot mechanism removed therefrom for clarity of illustration and showing the position that the fabric and the fabric binding material assume in the first stage of applying the binding material to an edge portion of the fabric.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of a piece of fabric which is bound with binding material in accordance with the method of this invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the fabric and binding shown in FlG. 4 taken along lines 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of fabric with binding material secured thereto along one edge thereof and showing the first step of the method of this invention 3,154,034 Patented Oct. 27., 1964 "ice before the binding material is caused to overlie the edge portion of the fabric.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the sewing machine shown in FIG. 1 with the binding material support means and fabric support means engaged with the presser foot of the the device and the binding material folding means disengaged.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken through a portion of the sewing machine shown in FIG. 7 along lines 88 of FIG. 7 with parts of the sewing machine removed therefrom for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 9 is a detail side view of the sewing machine shown in FIG. 1 showing means for applying power to the various parts of such machine.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a portion of the intermittent feeding means of this invention taken along lines 16-10 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 isan enlarged view of the work plate of the sewing machine utilized in this invention showing the binding material support means and fabric support means disengaged from said presser foot and the binding material folding means in operative relationship, with parts of the sewing machine removed for clarity of illustration.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 are diagrammatic fragmentary detail views showing the positions that the needle of the sewing machine and the adjacent feeding means assume in the formation of a stitch.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the presser foot of the sewing machine of this invention when the binding material support means and fabric support means are removed therefrom and the secondary support member is engaged.

Referring now to the specific forms of the instant invention as shown in the accompanying drawings, the sewing machine 11 to which the fabric binding attachment is secured is formed with a supporting frame 12. A presser foot 13 is secured to frame 12 by screws 27. A needle 14 is secured to needle bar 15. Needle bar 15 is moved reciprocatingly by means of linkage (not shown) attached to main drive shaft 28 which is rotated by means of main drive wheel 16 to which main drive shaft 28 is secured. The reciprocating movement of needle bar 15 is completely disclosed in United States Patents 1,934,381 and 2,064,153. Since the reciprocating movement of needle bar 15 is conventional, no further description of this movement need be made at this time. Main drive wheel 16, in addition to rotating main drive shaft 28, is also connected to arm 17 which in turn is connected to arm 18 by pin 19. Arm 18 is in turn connected to arm 26 thereby forming a bell crank lever which pivots about pin 21, and arm 22 is connected to arm 20 by pin'23. Arm 22 also bears projecting pin 24 at one end thereof which is reciprocatingly movable within slot 25 located within member 26. Member 26 is in turn secured to member 29 which bears slot 30. Pin 31 is movable within slot Shaft 32 is disposed within member 29 and is held therein in non-rotational engagement with member 29 so that reciprocating movement of member 29 will turn shaft 32. Member 29 also has bearing 33 therewithin which in turn is disposed upon frame 12 so that member 29 can move upon frame 12.

Shaft 32 is in turn connected to one side 34 of clutch 35. The other side 36 of clutch 35 is engaged with the movement of needle bar 15 and will only move when needle 14 is not within the work. The structure of clutch 35 is conihtional. A clutch 35, which may be used in this invenhon, is known as a one-way clutch. Portion 36 of clutch 35 is secured to shaft 37. Shaft 37 bears feed dogs 38 and 39 thereupon and positioning member 40.

Presser foot 13 beats a side portion 41 to which attachment 42 is secured. Primary support member 42 (also called attachment 42) bears binding material support 43 and fabric support 44 thereupon. Binding material 45 and fabric 46 are disposed in adjacent relationship upon bindmg material support 43 and fabric support 44 respectively. Binding material support 43 may be adjusted by means of screws 47 which are slidably movable within slots 48.

Primary support member 42 may be removed or placed "upon presser foot 13 by means of screws 49 which are dislposed Within slot 50.

Presser foot 13 also bears a recess 51 through which positioning member 40 extends. It is noted that positioning member 40 is not concentric and bears a pair of fingers 52 at each end thereof.

Secondary support member 53 is alternatively secured to presser foot 13 by screws 49 when primary support member 42 is disengaged therefrom. Secondary support member 53 bears a tongue portion 54.

A work plate 55 is secured to frame 12 and bears a recess 56 therewithin. A binding material folder 57 is formed with a pair of slots 58 and is secured to work plate 55 by screws 59 so that binding material folder 57 is slidably adjustable upon work plate 55. A binding material supply spool 60 is disposed beneath work plate 55.

With the foregoing specific description of this invention, the operation thereof will now be explained.

The instant invention is prepared for its first operation by engaging primary support member 42 with presser foot 13 as shown in the drawings, particularly in FIG. 2 thereof. Screws 49 are tightened.

The fabric 46 of which an edge 61 is to be bound is placed upon fabric support 44 of primary support member 42. Binding material 45, preferably a cotton tape, is led from spool 60 through recess 56 in work plate 55 and through binding material support 43. Secondary support member 53 and binding material folder 57 are not operative at this point. Secondary support member 53 is completely disengaged from presser foot 13 and binding material folder 57 is slid into an inoperative position on work plate 55 as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 11.

Main drive wheel 16 is actuated, causing main drive shaft 28 to move needle bar reciprocatingly and in turn move needle 14. Thread 62 is utilized for the sewing operation.

As needle 14 moves, it causes a stitch to be formed between binding material 45 and fabric 46, thereby commencing the securement of the parts to one another. The movement of main drive wheel 16 also causes power to be delivered to portion 34 of clutch 35, but clutch 35 is so designed so that the power will not be transmitted, at this time, to portion 36 of clutch 35.

As needle 34 leaves the binding material and fabric as shown in FIG. 12, clutch 35 engages so as to permit portion 36 of clutch 35 to move in engagement with portion 34. This causes shaft 37 to rotate and thereupon rotates feed dogs 38 and 39 as well as positioning member 40, which causes finger portion 52 to project through recess 51 in presser foot 13 at the end of the movement of feed dogs .38 and 39, so as to put the work in position for the next stitch.

As needle 14 moves downwardly, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, portion 36 of clutch 35 is no longer in engagement with portion 34 so that feed dogs 38 and 39 and finger portion 52 of positioning member 40 remain in position permitting needle 14 to make the next stitch.

Looper 63 is also utilized in the stitch formation process as in the conventional blind stitch sewing machine set forth in United States Patents 1,934,381 and 2,064,153.

Fabric 46 and binding material 45 are sewed together along the entire length of the edge portion 61 of which the binding material is to be secured. When the end of the edge is reached, the sewing machine is stopped. The binding material 45 is cut from the supply spool 60 and primary support member 42 is removed from presser foot 13. Secondary support member 53 is put in place of primary support member 42 as shown in FIG. 15, and folder 57 is positioned upon work plate 55 as shown in the full-lined portion of FIG. 11. Binding material 45 is then folded over edge portion 61 of fabric 46 as shown in FIG. 11 and the sewing machine again operated so as to secure the binding material over the edge portion of the fabric.

The foregoing specific embodiments of this invention as set forth in the specification herein are for illustrative purposes and for purposes of example only. Various changes and modifications may obviously be made within the spirit and scope of this invention and would occur to those skilled in this art.

I claim:

1. A blindstitch sewing machine for applying binding about the edge portions of fabric comprising a presser foot and laterally movable needle means, intermittent feeding means operatively connected to said needle means, binding material support means and adjacent fabric support means engageable with said presser foot and being selectively disengageable therefrom, and binding material folding means alternatively engageable with said sewing machine when said binding material support means and fabric support means are disengaged therefrom.

2. A blindstitch sewing machine for applying binding about the edge portions of fabric comprising a presser foot and laterally movable needle means, intermittent feeding means operatively connected to said needle means, tape support means and adjacent fabric support means engageable with said presser foot and being selectively disengageable therefrom, and tape folding means alternatively engageable with said sewing machine when said tape support means and fabric support means are disengaged therefrom.

3. A blindstitch sewing machine for applying binding about the edge portions of fabric comprising a presser foot and laterally movable needle means, intermittent feeding means operatively connected to said needle means, tape support means and adjacent fabric support means secured to a lateral portion of said presser foot and being selectively disengageable therefrom, and tape folding means alternatively engageable with said sewing machine when said tape support means and fabric support means are disengaged therefrom.

4. A blindstitch sewing machine for applying binding about the edge portions of fabric comprising a presser foot and laterally movable needle means, intermittent feeding means operatively connected to said needle means, a work plate forward of said needle means, tape guide means upon said work plate, a tape supply member adjacent said tape guide means, tape support means and adjacent fabric support means secured to a lateral portion of said presser foot and being selectively disengageable therefrom, a secondary support member alternatively engageable with said presser foot, and tape folding means upon said work plate operative when said tape support means and fabric support means are disengaged from said presser foot.

5. A blindstitch sewing machine for applying binding about the edge portions of fabric comprising a presser foot and laterally movable means, intermittent feeding means operatively connected to said needle means, a work plate forward of said needle means provided with a tape guide slot therewithin, a tape supply member below said work plate, a primary support member having a stern portion secured to a lateral portion of said presser foot and provided with a substantially right angled tape support portion and an adjacent fabric support portion; said primary support member being selectively disengageable from said presser foot, a secondary support member alternatively engageable with said presser foot, and a tape folding memher upon said work plate operative when said primary support member is disengaged from said presser foot and said secondary support member engaged thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Gronenberg Oct. 7, 1947 Seamen Mar. 16, 1948 Horwath Oct. 5, 1948 Ashley et a1 Nov. 20, 1951 Kostro Oct. 20, 1953 Haines Sept. 6, 1955 Dunn Ian. 12, 1960 McFaddin Aug. 16 1960 

1. A BLINDSTITCH SEWING MACHINE FOR APPLYING BINDING ABOUT THE EDGE PORTIONS OF FABRIC COMPRISING A PRESSER FOOT AND LATERALLY MOVABLE NEEDLE MEANS, INTERMITTENT FEEDING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID NEEDLE MEANS, BINDING MATERIAL SUPPORT MEANS AND ADJACENT FABRIC SUPPORT MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID PRESSER FOOT AND BEING 